Best Ever French Onion Soup

Absolutely the Best French Onion Soup recipe!
I make this delicious, rich soup with Yellow Onions and Early Italian Purple garlic. You can use French bread croutons,
or make your own garlic croutons for a robust, burst of added flavor.
The secret to superb French Onion Soup is not to burn
the onions during cooking, but rather to slow cook the onions
until a deep golden brown.

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
8 medium size Yellow onions, sliced thinly
4 French Cooking Thyme sprigs, leaves stripped
1/2 cup sherry
1 clove garlic crushed
6 cups organic chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
French bread croutons or garlic croutons
2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

Directions:

In a large saucepan add butter and melt over medium heat.
Add the onions, crushed garlic and lower the heat to medium low.
Add the thyme leaves and cook, stirring frequently,
until the onions start to turn golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Add the sherry and cook until the sherry is almost
completely evaporated and the onions are brown, about 15 minutes.
Add the stocks and bring to a boil.
Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes.
Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Ladle the soup into 8 oven-proof soup bowls.
Place the soup bowls on a sheet pan.
Place the croutons on top of the soup, to cover.
Top each bowl with 1/2 cup grated cheese.
Place in the oven and cook until the
cheese is golden brown and bubbly, about 10 minutes.